Chapter 24 "Rex"

Spike ran down the narrow path, Power followed attentively.

Jewels was secretly watching him, a calling feeling in her bones, telling her that they were up to something.

Spike stopped in a silence, Power looked each ways trying to figure out what Spike saw.

"I sense something…like we're being watched." Spike said. "WHO'S THERE?!"

Jewels felt her heartbeat race; she didn't know anything about these two.

A hedgehog came out in front of them, but it wasn't Jewels.

"Hey!" a hedgehog spoke out. "Who the heck are you and what are you doing on my land?!"

Power snarled, putting his fists up.

The hedgehog smiled. "I'm just kidding, this isn't my land."

Spike looked thoroughly confused. "Then why alert us like that?!"

"Cause its fun!" he said. "Sorry, I mean, yeah, I forgot what I was going to say."

The hedgehog was pure black with the exception of red stripes down his ears and quills, he was very harmless looking.

"The name's Rex, and I'm a bit of a loner I guess you might say, but I do own a ditch over there." said the eager hedgehog. "You guys sure are angry looking, something tick you off or something?"

Jewels watched with overwhelming interest, something about the hedgehog they were speaking to was very amusing.

She giggled.

Rex knocked Power in the shoulder. "So what brings you here to this forest? It's a pretty boring place."

"We're travelers I suppose you could say." Spike said bluntly, sounding like he wanted him to leave.

Rex seemed a little excited, running around the two while speaking. "That's cool; it's normally real boring here."

"We know, you said that." Power said in an annoyed tone.

"They seem like they're not doing anything wrong, I mean, they probably would have attacked this guy by now." Jewels came to the conclusion. "And, these guys DO seem like they have an objective of some kind, maybe joining them could bring back purpose to my life."

Jewels took a deep breath, and came out in the open.

"You guys have room for a girl on your team?" she said. "I mean, I'm pretty handy with machinery.

Rex was running at the time, but his gaze was staid.

This girl hedgehog, it was the most beautiful thing he ever saw.

Her bangs were flowing in the evening breeze as the sun seemed to illuminate her glassy blue eyes.

His eyes seemed to melt while looking, and as he was running he obviously wasn't paying any attention.

Out of the blue, he felt this strong force against his face; he'd run right into the tree.

A loud bellowing laugh came up from Jewels; she did not expect to see that.

"You-you-you-you." Rex kept repeating himself.

Spike was not very interested in Jewels as a teammate, she seemed too difficult to him.

"You actually expect me to let you work alongside me when you aren't even serious about It." said Spike. "I plan on doing all I have to, to make it to the top, and I won't hesitate, you're just a foolish girl."

"You have no idea what I'm capable of!" said Jewels. "Don't you underestimate me I've fought before, now if you don't want my help because I'm a girl then say so, but it won't be because I'm not strong or serious."

Spike was surprised at her. "Do you mean what it is you say?"

"Yes I mean what I say, do I look like a liar to you?" said Jewels.

"…Alright Jewels, we'll wait and see, for now you're a part of the team." Spike said uneasiness in his tone. "But I am the authority here, the moment you forget that, you're done."

Jewels smiled. "Glad to be aboard."

Power was not taking very much to the idea, but he told himself that Spike must know what he's doing.

"ME TOO!!!" Rex said, blushing like a leaf.

"You've got to be kidding me, what on Mobious do you have to offer my objective?" Spike said. "You don't even know the goal in the first place."

Rex stood up tall. "I don't care, I have no where else to go, oh! And watch this."

The excited hedgehog ran over to the tree he smashed into. (It had a huge gash in it from his face.)

He grabbed the tree, and to everyone's astonishment, pulled it right up from the roots, and held it over his head.

"Holy flaming ice-cream trucks…" Power said.

"See? I'm super strong, that's a talent! Right?" said Rex.

"How did you do that?!" Spike exclaimed.

"Well, I grabbed it, and pulled it, and lifted it, and there you are." said Rex.

Power looked at the HUGE tree he lifted with awe. "Master, his strength could be very useful to us." Power said.

Spike thought on it a moment, Rex's expression was the sweetest he could make, like a puppy dog begging for attention.

Spike figured, if it didn't work out, then he could dump him simply enough.

"Fine, you can join too, but same deal, I'm in charge." Spike said.

End chapter